236 THE FOREST LANDS OF FINLAND. 
deep, precipitous, and narrow, in proportion to their length. 
Such is the general character of the lakes in mountainous 
regions—of:the Swiss lakes for instance, those of North 
Italy, of Cumberland, Westmoreland, Scotland, &. On 
the ether hand, where the upheaving forces have acted 
more gently, and gradually, and have raised the country 
with more uniformity, producing extensive plains and low 
steppes, lakes will not only be more numerous, by reason 
of the less erosive power of running water to drain them 
by deepening the outlets, but will effect more rounded 
forms, and cover the country with shallow pools or ponds 
void of all picturesque beauty, as we see exemplified in 
Poland, and in the districts between the Gulf of Finland 
and the White Sea, which are almost connected by a 
chain of shallow lakes. Some of them (as those of Onega 
and Ladoga) very extensive.’ 
Finland is situated between the 60th and 70th degree 
of north latitude, and the 38th and 50th degree of 
longitude east of the Faroe Islands. ‘Its area,’ says Dr 
Ignatius, ‘is about 6800 geographical square miles. Its 
surface presents a singular aspect. In an accurate map it 
presents such a confused culmination of land and water 
that one can with difficulty, trace dissevering outlines. The 
coast, extending over 1400 kilometers, is cut up excessively, 
especially in the south and south-west, and is begirt 
with an archipelago of rocks and islands innumerable, 
called the Skargard or bulwark of Scar rocks. It is impos- 
sible for a stranger to guide his vessel without a pilot in 
this labryinth of straits and gulfs, through the islands 
and rocks which spread out before him, as far as his 
eye can reach, immediately he approaches these coasts. 
This archipelago presents an exact counterpart to the 
general configuration of the country itself in its general 
features. Here the islands are ridges and hills, the gulfs 
are represented by valleys, the depths of which are filled 
with lakes, especially in the interior of the country, In 
sailing on these lakes one may imagine himself still in the 
